Entry Levels:

Level 1 - includes kindergarten through third grade

Level 2 - includes grades four through six

Level 3 - includes grades seven through nine

Level 4 - includes grades ten through twelve
Faculty and Staff - any employee of a school district.

Entry Categories:

Videotape

Entries must be no more than ten minutes long; if a longer entry is submitted, only the first ten minutes will be viewed for evaluation. Students may submit an edited version of a longer project showing the "highlights" in a logical sequence. Entries may be submitted on a standard VHS videocassette, mini DV videocassette or DVD. Each entry must be submitted on a separate videocassette or disc.

Photography

Entries in this category must be made up of an image or a series of images taken with either a traditional film-based camera or a digital camera. Photographs may be any size or shape and may be printed in black and white or color. All photos must be mounted or framed for display. A series of photos may be entered as a photo essay and may be mount­ed separately or on a single background. Participants must indicate on the entry form if they processed or developed the pictures on their own.

Desktop Publishing

This category is for printed publishing projects such as school newspapers, storybooks, pamphlets or flyers. It is not intended to include essays or reports. Any word processing or desktop publishing software may be used. Emphasis in evaluation will be on layout and graphic design, not journal­istic style or writing quality.

Computer Graphics (Still)

Entries in this category may be created using any graphics software package. Entries must be submitted in printed form and must be mounted or framed for display. Entries may contain clip art or digital photographs but the work must be primarily created by using a computer and software. See the section on project examples for ideas on the kinds of projects which may be entered in this category. Sorry, we can no longer accept entries on CD-ROM or diskette.

Animations

Animations may be created using movie film, video or a computer. Entries in this category may be created using any animation software or by programming. Entries may be entered on 8mm film, 1.4 mb diskette, VHS videocassette, mini DV videocassette, CD-ROM or DVD.Each entry must be submitted on a separate film, videocassette or disc.

World Wide Web Pages

Entries in this category may be created using any web page creation software. Web page entries are limited to a single page and must be submitted on a either a single 1.4 megabyte diskette or on a CD-ROM. Entries must be viewable using Netscape, Microsoft Internet Explorer " or Mozilla Firefox"". Information on any "plug-ins" required to view an entry must be supplied on the entry form. Each entry must be submitted on a separate disk.

NEW ! - Presentations

This category is for projects created with desktop presenta­tion software such as PowerPoint or Keynote. Entries may contain text, images, audio or video clips and must be en­tered on 1.4 megabyte diskettes or on CD-ROM. Each entry must be submitted on a separate disk.

NEW ! - Podcasts

This category is for short radio-like projects that have be-come very popular on the internet. Entries must be no more than ten minutes long; if a longer entry is submitted, only the first ten minutes will be reviewed for evaluation. Pod-casts must be entered on CD-ROM as an MP3 file or as an audio CD. Each entry must be submitted on a single disk.

NEW ! - "How I Did It" Sessions

We invite students or staff who want to make a short presen­tation at the Media Festival Exhibition on how they planned, prepared and produced one or more of the entries that they entered in the competition. Entrants should plan a 30 - 45 minute presentation that includes information on the steps involved in producing the entry, equipment and/or software that was used and learning objectives that were accom­plished. Presentations will be evaluated and awards will be given at the conclusion of the festival.

Deadline for Entries:

The deadline for entries occurs during the month of April. Publicity materials with submission dates and the festival date will be distributed to all school libraries in March.

Festival Date:

To be announced in March.

Eligibility:

1. Entries may be submitted by individuals, classes, extracur­ricular groups such as a club, or out of school clubs.
2. Entries must have been completed between the dates specified on the current entry form.
3. A student is defined as a girl or boy who has not com­pleted high school and who is enrolled in one of the sixteen school districts of the DCMO BOCES.
4. A maximum of three (3) entries per category will be accepted from any given group or individual.

Entry Requirements:

The student(s) must show involvement in these activities of the media production.

1. Organization or scripting of the project.
2. Shooting, filming or drawing to create a visual image.
3. Editing or polishing the final project.
4. Entries must be submitted with a completed entry form by the deadline indicated in the current entry form to:

DCMO BOCES
Instructional Support Services Division
6678 County Road 32
Norwich, New York 13815-3554

The Teacher's Role:

A teacher may assist a student by:

1. Initiating the media production with an assignment or project idea.
2. Encouraging the students' creative expression.
3. Providing basic instruction, facilities, and equipment for the completion of the media production.
4. Providing additional resources for research and project content.
5. Providing a critical appraisal of the final project.

Criteria for Evaluation:

Entries will be evaluated by professionals in the media arts from business and industry in our area. Entries will be judged for:

1. Effective visual and / or aural communication. The entry should convey a message or story and display a mastery of the medium.

2. Creative visual and/or aural expression.

3. Technical quality of the final product. It is realized that not all students have access to the same quality of equipment. It is, therefore, very important that each entry specify what type of equipment is used in the production process so that the judges may take that into account.

4. While scripting is an essential part of media production, literary quality will not necessarily be stressed.

5. Adherence to the copyright laws will be taken into account. Where works by another artist are used (i.e., music or graphics used in video production) proper credit must be given.

Awards:

1. All contestants will receive a certificate of participation.
2. First, second, and third place awards will be given in each category at each of the four entry levels.
3. A Media Festival Best of Show Award will be given to the most outstanding entry at each entry level.
4. A Merit Award will be given in an entry level category for which only one entry is received.
5. The Rod Auwarter Award will be passed on to the school district with the greatest VARIETY of entries by categories and entry levels.

All decisions of the judges are final.

Any questions regarding these rules
may be addressed to Mr. Todd Rutan
Delaware•Chenango•Madison•Otsego BOCES
Instructional Support Services
6678 County Road 32
Norwich, NY 13815-3554
(607) 335 - 1369

BOCES Instructional Support Services reserves the right to copy, photograph or reproduce entries for the purpose of publicizing the Student Media Festival.

Project Examples:

To assist you in choosing the correct category for your entries here are some examples of common projects and the correct category they should be entered in.

Videotape - videos of dramatizations, puppet shows, news programs, commercials, documentaries, interviews

Photography - portraits, landscapes, photo essays, sports photos, shadowgrams, photo montages

Desktop Publishing - newspapers, newsletters, advertisements, pamphlets, flyers, posters, banners, storybooks

Animations - claymation, cutouts, cell animations, computer animations, video animations

Computer Graphics - CAD projects, floor plans, maps, product packaging designs, logo designs, architectural drawings

Web Pages - personal pages, mock business pages, classroom pages, digital portfolio pages

Presentations - PowerPoint® presentations, keynote presentations, HyperStudio® stacks, multimedia projects, slide/tape shows, sound filmstrips

Podcasts - Interviews, news programs, tips and tricks, informational programs, radio plays